AUDIO

Charm City Rocks

Books on Tape. Jun. 2023. 9:06 hrs. ISBN 9780593743133. $76. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
COPY ISBN
Norman’s (All Together Now) latest, warmly narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, follows single father and music teacher Billy Perkins as he grapples with love, family, and middle age. Billy is happy and content with his life, living above the record store Charm City Rocks and teaching music with his nerdy teenage son, Caleb. Only when he and Caleb are watching a music documentary about bands from the past does he remember how much he loves music. Caleb tries to convince Margot Hammer, the drummer from his dad’s favorite band, Burnt Flowers, to come and perform at the record store. The story takes off as Margot tries to stay relevant in an age that seems to have passed her by, and Caleb tries to ease his dad’s loneliness by casually setting them up. DiMercurio provides a spirited and expressive performance, capturing the story’s twists and turns and keeping listeners invested until the end.
VERDICT DiMercurio’s depictions of Norman’s endearing characters, full of love for music and the people around them, strike exactly the right note. A satisfying, feel-good rom-com recommended for fans of Jonathan Topper and Richard Roper.
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